Christmas is about Family

Jeff and I are so blessed to have our families literally live five minutes apart so we get to share the holiday with both families. We had such a blast this Christmas. It was so much fun that Skylee knew what was going on this year and was super excited for Santa to come. The night before Christmas Eve we got to go down to Vegas to pick up Ken, Jeff's brother, and have dinner with all of his Mom's family.

Christmas Eve morning we got to spend with Jeff's family then headed over to my family that night. We played the Wii, ate lots of delicious food, and then went out to judge Christmas lights with animal crackers. We put down all the seats in the back of the van and just put blankets down. Nana, Grandma, Grandpa and us were there. Jaston was in heaven. He was literally jumping up and down and throwing himself all over the place he was having so much fun being free. It was hysterical and actually surprising I didn't think he would like it so much. Skylee loved singing Christmas carols esp. from her Rudolph stuffed animal that sang Rudolph so much we had to take him away and hide him. :) We listened to the lds.org version of the nativity. Then Sky wrote a letter to Santa and left a cookie for him and carrots for Rudolph and headed to bed.
While I was tucking her in I asked her what song she wanted me to sing and she wanted me to sing a Christmas one but when I started singing she told me to be quiet cuz Santa might hear and come. I said, "You don't want Santa to come?" and she whispered so quiet, "Not yet." Then she asked me if the chimney was in her room. Then i understood she was scared that Santa was going to come in her room and that idea scared her. I reassured her he couldn't come until she was sleeping and he wouldn't come into her room at all he was in too big of a hurry. She still struggled to fall asleep for a few hours.
Christmas morning was super fun. Skylee was SO excited to see the letter Santa wrote her and then see what Santa brought her and she declared after opening presents, "He brought me EVERYTHING!" It was super cute. We had Emil and Kelsi with us this year. Then after opening presents at my fams we headed to Jeff's and did the whole festivities again. His whole family was there. We were pretty spoiled at both places. Skylee was in a state of euphoria I think she started just ripping open presents throwing paper up over her shoulder and running to the next.
I'm so grateful for the time we got to spend with our families because really, that is what it is all about. We had so much fun and made great memories. This really was probably the funnest (word?) Christmas I have had in a long time cuz I was super giddy to have Skylee excited about the Christmas everything. While we were driving around looking at lights last night with my kids literally jumping up and down the thought popped into my head, "Christmas is back." I have enjoyed the Christmases in the past but it has been a long time since I have been so excited about all the little aspects of Christmas - the lights, wrapping presents, singing songs, counting down, shopping, family time etc... and the reason is because of my kids, the excitement is back and I'm super excited now for next year when I have two kids that will get it a little more. :)